Lot 1858
1876 Quarter Dollar Octagonal Indian Breen and Gillio-785. High Rarity 5. PCGS graded MS-63. Light golden toning. Prooflike surfaces. The always-popular Indian head style. Pop 6; 10 finer, 6 in 64, 4 in 65 (PCGS # 10612) .
Historic note: "Though there's no evidence of Period Two gold pieces being mistaken for a legal tender," explains Coinsite.com, "these coins caught the eye of James J. Brooks, the somewhat overzealous chief of the U. S. Secret Service. He requested that San Francisco Agent Henry Finnegass look into the matter. When Finnegass was able to purchase one each of the quarter and half dollar pieces at face value from a jeweler, he used this as evidence of noncompliance with the Law of June 8, 1864 prohibiting private coinage. Despite pleas from the jewelry manufacturers that these tokens were used only as charms, he launched a crusade of seizure and destruction whenever he could find such pieces for sale. This had the effect of temporarily ending their manufacture and distribution, as well as making some varieties quite rare."
Estimated Value $400 - 450.
Ex: Al Blythe Collection.
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| Realized $345 |
